Improvement in seal-locks for boxes



H. C. MARSTDN.

Seal-Locks for Boxes.

N0.138,670. PatentedMay6,1873.

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HENRY (J. MARSTON, OF WASHINGTON, DlSTBIOI OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS FOR BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,670, dated May 6, 1873; application filed April 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. MARsToN, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks for Ballot and other Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawin g which forms part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to dispense with the use of a separate, removable seallock in securing the lids or covers of ballot and other boxes, or in looking hinged doors. To this end the invention consists in com bining with a sliding plate which is adapted to carry a glass seal, and can be secured in place by a spring-dog, a button-headed stud moving with said seal-plate and engaging with a slotted plate, as will be explained.

Figure 1 represents my improved look as applied to a ballot-box, the cover of the box being partially raised. Fig. 2 shows the position of the seal-plates when the lid is closed and locked. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the lock with one of the seal-slides or plates drawn forward; and Fig. 4 represents the lock in an inverted position.

In the drawing, A represents the upper half of the body of a box of suitable form and material, and provided with a hinged lid, B. A is a flange rising from the upper edge of the box. The front wall is inclined rearward at such an angle that when the lid is closed, as in Fig. 2, its front wall or side shall fit closely the inclined front wall of flange A. I prefer to make this flange equal in height to the width of the sides 11 of the lid or cover B, so that the top of the lid will, when closed, rest upon said flange, and thus efl'ectually prevent ballots from being passed into or abstracted from the box through the crevice around the edge of the cover. 0 G is a metallic case or shell, the part 0 having a flange or rim within which the plate 0 is secured by means of screws or rivets. C is a slot or throat in case 0 0 through which the ballots are inserted, there being a corresponding slot in the flange A, as at a, Fig. 1. These two slots must, of course, be coincident with each other when the lid is closed. 0 c o are slots (preferably square in form) in the part 0 of the case, near its lower edge. 0 0 c are sliding plates, arranged to reciprocate in slots formed for their reception in the lower edge of the shell or case. Each of these plates 0 c c is provided upon its upper surface with a socket or recess 0", of somewhat greater size than the slots 0 in the shell. The necessity for making these sockets 0 (see Figs. 1 and 3) will soon be explained. Each of these sliding plates is fur ther provided with a small perforation, 0 (see Figs. 3 and 4,) within the socket 0*. d d (see Fig. 4) are button-headed studs, projecting downward from the inner ends of sliding plates 0 c and moving in slots cut to receive them in the part 0 of the shell. cl are spring-dogs or latches attached to plate 0 The spurs at the free ends of these dogs pass through holes in said plate and enter the perforations a when the sliding plates are thrust far enough into the shell 0 (P, as will be readily seen without further explanation. The upper end of sliding plate 0 is expanded and formed into 7 a gate of such shape and size that it may be made to close or cover the ballot-throat 0 as indicated piainly by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. a a are two slots cut in the flange A of the box, in such position that they shall coincide, substantially, with the two slots 0 when the lid B is closed. The upper ends of slots a are equal in width to the diameter of the shanks of the button-headed studs 01 d, but their lower ends are made circular in form and of greater diameter than the heads of the studs; thus, when the sliding plates to which these studs are attached are drawn out, as in Fig. 1, the lid can be closed or opened at will, the heads of the said studs passing easily through the enlarged lower ends of the slots.

The operation of my improved box is as follows Suppose it to be empty, with the slides all drawn forward, as in Fig. 1. The inspector of election, or other proper person, examines it to see that it is entirely free of ballots. After closing the lid two seals are placed in the seal-sockets 0* in the sliding plates 0 0 The plates are then pushed inward until the dogs d snap into the perforations 0 the studs d d at the same time sliding up into the narrow portion of the slots at a, when, as the heads of the studs are too large to be drawn through the slots, the lid of the box cannot be opened except by first drawing out the sliding plates 0 0 As has been described, the sealsockets o are larger than the slots or openings 0, and, as the seals are made to fit their sockets closely, it will be seen that they (the seals) cannot be taken out through the openings 0 Without first breaking them, and as no key or set can be employed to push down the dogs 01 while the seals are in position and intact, it will be seen that the seals must be destroyed before the lid can be opened.

When preferred, seals may be used which have designs photographed or otherwise traced, printed, or etched upon' them, the duplicates of these designs being taken by different persons, in order to avoid collusion.

After the polls are closed the throat 0 should be closed by pushing in the slide 0 sealing it in like manner.

Although I prefer to use three separate sliding seal-plates, in the manner described, yet the construction may be simplified and cheapened by attaching a button-headed stud to the central plate 0 and making its slots 0 and a of such length as will permit said plate to be moved in an additional distance after the polls are closed, and thus shut up the ballot throat. Of course the plate must be locked in each position by a dog, d, but this can beprovided for by simply bevelin g off the rear part of the aperture 0 so that it will permit the plate to be easily pushed in.

As a modification of my construction I may make my lid without any hinges, and by using two or more sets of locking devices secure the cover firmly in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- g 1. In combination with the cover B of the box, the sliding seal-plates 0 0 (one or both,) provided with the button-headed studs d, engaging with the flange A of the box, and the locking-dogs d, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a box having a throat, 0 for receiving ballots, the sliding seal-plate 0 and locking-dog d, said seal-plate having its upper end expanded and formed into a gate to close the throat O substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of April, 1873.

HENRY O. MARSTON. in. s]

Witnesses:

JOHN B. MOTLEY, H. H. DOUBLEDAY. 

